URBAN TONGUE-IN-CHEEK BLUES WITH HAZMAT MODINE AT THE GENTING INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Variety is going to be the name of the game at the newly born Genting International Jazz Festival.
The organizers are determined to bring as many different jazz genres to the resort come June 8th and 9th this year, and for many more years after this.
It is going to be a journey of enlightenment and adventure as well, as they are going to showcase not only the more familiar contemporary jazz bands, they are going to unearth every single possible strand of the many-faceted world of jazz.
Coming from America is a band that the organizers predict will leave the audience gaping.
HAZMAT MODINE musicians are not new to the music scene. They have a wealth of experience behind them. Which is probably why they are so confidently relaxed on stage while they produce superb music interspersed with dry wit and informal one-liners.
They are fronted by two harmonicas played by Wade Schuman, who is one of the most dynamic musicians in the New York music circuit, and Randy Weinstein.
The harmonicas are unusual enough, but the band also describes themselves as a “band of unwanted instruments”. They bring on stage obscure instruments like the cimbalom (a big Eastern European hammered dulcimer), the sheng or Chinese mouth organ, the claviola (an almost unheard of reed instrument), a contra-bass saxophone also known as the sarrusaphone and snippets of throat singing when the urge takes them.
It is the Blues with a twist. It is also the sort of blues that one might have expected to hear in houses of disrepute in New Orleans.
There is also some gypsy thrown in, Cuban and Brazilian snatches, Latin, Swing and just about anything else that can produce interesting textures and layers.
Wade Schuman plays more pre-war blues while Randy Weinstein draws more on Chicago blues and jazz.
Hazmat Modine is not the only band to play at the festival. There will be Acoustique from Wales, Sakesho from the Caribbean, Shanghai jazz from China, The Funk Mob from Malaysia and more.
Ten bands altogether will perform over the two day weekend. Shows will start at 7.00 pm each night.
Tickets for a one day Adult pass is priced at RM100 while a 2-day pass is available at RM150.
They can be bought online at www.genting.com.my or call 03-2718 1118 from April onwards.
The website will also have information on packages that have been tailored for the event.
The Genting International Jazz Festival is one of a part of Genting’s series of Performing Arts and events.
“Modine” is a large commercial heater. The band thinks the name is very appropriate since they all blow a lot of hot air. And “Hazmat” means hazardous materials.
This is a band not to be missed. Just don’t forget to breathe.
